Law Enforcement Role in Controlling Misuse of Pharmaceuticals: Assessing the Impact of ProjectSTOP on Crime

ProjectSTOP is a real time recording (RTR) system designed to reduce the diversion of pseudoephedrine-based products used in the production of methamphetamine and to help pharmacists determine whether customers of pseudoephedrine products are legitimate or illegitimate users.

We are the only researchers in Australia to be given access to the ProjectSTOP transaction data by GuildLink. Our study aims to assess whether the RTR system, ProjectSTOP, has reduced the diversion of pseudoephedrine-based products into illicit drug manufacture in Queensland.

ProjectSTOP assists pharmacists in meeting their state regulatory recording requirements. This research project is a vital opportunity for UQ researchers to harness unique access to ProjectSTOP data and build a powerful new partnership with GuildLink to better understand the impact of RTR systems on health regulation and related harm indicators.

The research team will analyse pseudoephedrine sales data (ProjectSTOP) and data from Queensland Police (offences related to the possession, production, or supply of methamphetamine as well as clandestine laboratory detections).